Let’s Talk Patient Care Experience
When it comes to applying for PA school, Patient Care Experience (PCE) is one of the most vital components of your application. The more PCE you have, the more competitive you become. So, the golden question here… where do I start?
Why is PCE beneficial?
You may wonder: Why is it even important? While not every PA program requires listed PCE, it’s strongly encouraged, as it can strengthen your application. This helps programs better understand your background and preparation. It also reflects your ability to work in a team, demonstrate leadership, and build foundational skills, all of which contribute to your success in real-world clinical environments.
So…what counts as PCE?
Another great question! PCE doesn’t necessarily come with a “one size fits all” label. It’s generally based on the various criteria of the schools to which you apply. Some schools heavily weigh hands-on roles, while others may prioritize other experiences, such as shadowing. The main thing to know is where exactly your patient care fits in on your application, and this info can be found with proper research of each program.
What to look for
When determining which roles you should take on for your PCE, there are a couple of things to take into consideration. Knowing the real difference between Patient Health Care Experience and Health Care Experience (HCE) is key. PCE involves direct, hands-on experience. You can think of it as having direct responsibility for the care of a patient. HCE is generally working in a healthcare setting without direct patient responsibility.
At the Duke PA Program, we have a required minimum of 1000 hours of PCE with direct hands-on patient contact.
Some examples of acceptable patient care roles for our program include:
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EMT or paramedic
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Health educator
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Registered nurse
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Patient care attendant or certified nursing assistant (CNA)
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Clinic assistant or medical assistant (MA)
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Health-related Peace Corps volunteer or other cross-cultural health care experience
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Technologist
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Therapist
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Scribe (not virtual scribe)
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Clinical research assistant with direct care responsibilities such as phlebotomy.
We also have a list on our admissions site with examples of what is not accepted toward your PCE.
If you are ever unsure of where your roles fit in, don’t hesitate to ask! It’s always best to reach out to the admissions team to check, rather than to assume and not get credit for your time.
Good luck!
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The Duke Physician Assistant Program Admissions Blog presents information based on the experiences of Duke PA Program staff and faculty. While the information provided is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, requirements can change. Please visit the Duke PA Program website for the most up-to-date information.